President Donald Trump announced the disbanding of two high-profile business advisory councils on Wednesday after several chief executives quit in protest over his remarks blaming weekend violence in...

New bakery hopes for sweet success in Nashua

Eric Tedder of Eric's Main Street Bakery shares a laugh with Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau at the grand opening of his bakery. (SIMON RIOS/Union Leader Correspondent)

NASHUA - Eric Tedder's path to becoming a baker has led him down many side roads. But it was the road studded with lobster tails, lemon squares and neapolitans that he determined was his true vocation.

"It was just an eight-year transition and mishmash of different jobs," Tedder said during the grand opening of his shop, Eric's Main Street Bakery, on Friday.

Tedder was once a route driver for J.J. Nissen. His former brother-in-law owned Blackberry Bakery in Danvers, Mass., and in 2002 he and his ex-wife opened a second Blackberry in Derry.

That was where he truly learned the trade, running a shop several times the size of the current one at 182 Main Street.

"I really enjoy making the pastry," he said, standing behind display cases filled to the brim with fresh-baked pastries. "Once you learn to manage time constraints it's a fun job because you get a chance to create things, like the TV bars and the Baileys Irish Cream cake."

The latter is a three-layer yellow cake, drizzled with Baileys liquor. The layers are filled with chocolate pudding and Bailey's flavored mousse, before being topped with ganache and lined with white chocolate.

Eric's Main Street Bakery delves into the full spectrum of items associated with the term "baked goods." From specialty muffins and coffee cakes and fresh danishes to cannolis, tiramisu, éclairs, and turnovers, Eric's offers seven different cakes and 13 pastries.

Tedder said if something is not on the menu he's willing to attempt it to the best of his ability.

The business is a family operation with just one employee, a family friend. Tedder's mother, children and other family members constitute his work force.

The shop is in the same location of a former bakery, Lovin' Cupcakes and Cannolis. Owner Lori Robicheau was forced to sell her business for health reasons, Tedder said.

Tedder's mother caught wind of the availability through a neighboring shop-owner who gave her the contact information of the landlord, Rich Lannan.

Tedder put $40,000 into opening up, purchasing much of Robicheau's equipment, among other startup costs.

Mayor Donnalee Lozeau cut the ribbon at the shop's grand opening on Friday. "We have a very vibrant downtown, so anything we can add to it is terrific," she said. "I think the bakery part of it, that's something that brings a little something extra."

On her way to a board meeting of Pennichuck Water Works, Lozeau decided it was best not to arrive empty-handed - she filled a large pastry box with a cornucopia of sweets before bidding good luck to the new business.